She’s not the most obvious style icon but Ruth Bader Ginsburg has single handedly brought scrunchies back from fashion exile.
And although they fell out of favor for many years, the 85-year-old Supreme Court Justice has been curating her collection for 25 years, travelling the world to nab the best and most unusual designs.
‘I have been wearing scrunchies for years,’ she told the Wall Street Journal.
Pro tip: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 85, has revealed her favorite place to buy them is Switzerland
Longtime fan: She has been collecting scrunchies from around the world for 25 years, pictured in 1993 with Bill Clinton
Globe trotter: She ranks London followed by Rome in second and third place when it comes to buying scrunchies, pictured with former Elle Editor-In-Chief Robbie Myers
‘My best scrunchies come from Zurich. Next best, London, and third best, Rome.’
However, she did admit that the retro hair tie has largely taken a back seat compared to her penchant for other statement accessories.
‘My scrunchie collection is not as large as my collar and glove collections, but scrunchies are catching up,’ Justice Ginsburg added.
While Carrie Bradshaw might be spinning in her Manolos at the prospect, it seems hair scrunchies, the perennial Nineties favorite are here to stay.
In 2017, Urban Outfitters reported a 170 per cent increase in scrunchies’ sales and during New York Fashion Week 2018, several A-listers including Bella Hadid and Selena Gomez were spotted wearing the style, while brands like Slip and Mansur Gavriel have launched new designs in recent seasons.
The ‘Notorious RBG’ as she’s known on social media, isn’t one to shy away from making a bold fashion statement, and has accessorized her judicial black robe with an intricate lace collar for years.
She’s also known for donning fishnet gloves during formal occasions – she first started wearing them in 1999 while undergoing chemotherapy for colon cancer.
Accessories queen: Bader Ginsburg also shared that her scrunchie collection is not as large as her collar and glove collections, but scrunchies are catching up
Protection: She first started wearing gloves in 1999 while undergoing chemotherapy for colon cancer but liked them so much, she kept wearing them
Finishing touch: The Columbia Law graduate has accessorized her judicial black robe with ornate lace collars for years
‘Justice (Sandra Day) O’Connor said when I was having chemotherapy after colon cancer, “You are vulnerable now, and you’re going to receptions and shaking hands with lots of people, so you should at least wear gloves.”
‘This was in 1999. So, I wore gloves and liked them so much, I decided to keep wearing them.’
Not one to shy away from the limelight, Bader Ginsburg’s life, including her pioneering legal career and fight for equality, has also become the subject of a documentary.
The movie, which is titled RBG, is due to be released in May after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.
Directors Betsy West and Julie Cohen, used interviews with Ginsburg, her friends, family, colleagues, and former clients, as well as home movies to paint a picture of the justice’s life from her days at Harvard and Columbia law school, to her work at the nation’s highest federal court.